A GRANGETOWN family have demanded to know why their baby girl was not given a potentially life-saving treatment.

Leona Jade Kidd was just 17 weeks old when she developed breathing difficulties in the family’s home on Birchington Avenue.

She was taken to hospital by paramedics, but despite the efforts of staff at the James Cook University Hospital, sadly she died just after arrival.

Leona was born with skeletal dysplasia - an abnormality in the development, shape and structure of the skeleton - but caring for a sick child was nothing unusual for mum Leanne, 25, and dad Jeff, 36.

Their other daughter, Nicole, four, suffers from severe cerebral palsy, so time on the children’s ward is devastatingly familiar for the couple.

And at the inquest into Leona’s death on Tuesday, Jeff wanted to know why his daughter was not given a tracheotomy.

The tried and tested surgical procedure involves making a small incision in the windpipe and inserting a tube to open up the airway.

The dad asked Dr Christopher Wright, a paediatric pathologist from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, if a tracheotomy would have saved Leona’s life.

Dr Wright said it may have helped the tot.

Jeff Kidd also had the opportunity to question Fiona Hampton, a consultant paediatrician at the James Cook after she had given her evidence.

Mrs Hampton said baby Leona was not given the tracheotomy because the risk of infection and death was abnormally high in one so young.

Jeff asked: “If it was called off for the safety of her life, then why is she dead?”

The consultant said with the benefit of hindsight, she could understand why the family asked the question, but the doctors at the James Cook took what they believed to be the best course of action at the time.

She also invited Leanne and Jeff to meet with the doctors to discuss Leona’s treatment.

Teesside Deputy Coroner Anthony Eastwood recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

After the inquest, the Evening Gazette spoke to Jeff and Leanne, both carers, about the proceedings.

Jeff said: “I’m glad we got the chance to ask some questions today, and hear some of the answers.

“Some of them we are happy with.”

Leanne added: “But if Leona was given a tracheotomy, she would have still been here today.